Zoning Board elects new chair, raises interpreter access questions for Spanish‑speaking applicants

The El Paso City Zoning Board of Adjustment elected Justin Bass as chair and reappointed Martha Aguayo as vice chair at its Dec. 8 meeting, and board members also pressed staff on how the city handles live interpretation for Spanish‑speaking applicants.

During the officer selection the motion to appoint Justin Bass as chair and Martha (Aguayo/Guayo) as vice chair was moved and approved by voice vote; Bass accepted the appointment. The election followed a standard annual procedure for selecting a chair and vice chair.

A substantive portion of the meeting then turned to access and fairness after an applicant in item 4 (11837 Chalita) required Spanish translation. Community member Jessica Castaneda said it was "unfair" the applicant was "clueless to what everybody was discussing," and Assistant City Attorney Russell Abel responded that while there may not be a specific legal requirement, "it would be recommended to have an official interpreter." Planning staff said the city can provide an interpreter on request and encouraged applicants to request one during the review process.

Board members discussed whether staff prompts applicants to ask for an interpreter and whether staff should follow up proactively. The board agreed staff should work with applicants who request interpretation and flagged the Chalita case for postponement to Jan. 26 to allow the applicant to return with clearer material samples and staff-assisted translation.

Why it matters: officer elections set leadership for agenda management and public outreach; the interpreter discussion highlights a recurring procedural issue that affects applicants' ability to participate fully in hearings.